Philippine golf enjoys rebirth in 2008

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine golf enjoyed a remarkable season last year as professional and amateur golfers celebrated new milestones in 2008. Much has changed since 1997 — the time when the Asian Financial crisis came in. Gone were the Ericsson and Philip Morris golf tours which provided much of the pros’ livelihood. But the once “dead" professional golf tour sprang back to life with its revival initiated by the International Container and Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) in the last quarter. With only a few pro tournaments, the country’s top pros turned to the cash-rich Asian Tour to earn their keep. In fact, the Asian Tour recorded 30 events offering an all-time high US$39 million and also saw the Tour welcome new and exciting stars in seven first-time winners, including Rookie of the Year Noh Seung-yul of Korea. Our own superstar pros made their mark in the Asian Tour as well. Not even the fabled and tricky East course of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club could stop Angelo Que from his destiny and a name in history by winning the Philippine Open, the most prestigious pro tournament in the country and Asia’s oldest national championship. A one-over-par 73 in the final round sealed Que’s sentimental victory at home making sure another Filipino will hold the coveted crown. He took over the reign of Frankie Miñoza, who at 49 is still highly respected as the Philippines’ No. 1 golfer. “I’m out of words. To win here at the Philippine Open is like a dream come true for me," said the 30-year-old Que, moments after his triumph which was his second title in the Asian Tour. Que stayed in-form in the coming months and also played in the British Open, one of the four major events featuring the world’s top-tier pros. He holed a monster 40-foot birdie in the playoff to beat Japanese Tomohiro Kondo and became only the second Filipino, since Miñoza in 1998, to qualify. At the rival Asean Golf Tour, now known as the Mercedes-Benz Tour, Que got his second crown of the season when he won the ICTSI-Mount Malarayat Championship. Consistent shot-making also earned him the top Order of Merit distinction. Talented veteran Felix Casas was the hands-down choice as the comeback player of the year after producing a vintage-like display in the Mercedes-Benz Tour’s B-Ing Championship to capture the title over Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat. “I have had some personal problems which I don’t want to talk about but I am back now and ready to go again. I have been playing at the Mercedes-Benz Tour to try and get my game back and it’s been great," said Casas, whose last success was at the 2001 Philippine Open. Artemio Murakami, Miñoza’s well-known protégé, did not have much luck in the Asian Tour but he was good enough for the US Open. Like Que, Murakami needed a last-hole heroic to grab one of two spots during the sectional qualifier played in Japan. He bowed out after a disappointing seven-over-par 78 and 12-over-par 83 at the Torrey Pines in San Diego. “I have learned a lot from the experience. I still have to work hard in my game and I need to gain some distance in my driving and another club length on the irons to really be competing in a major. You must be solid all rounds in a major," said the 25-year-old Filipino-Japanese. Rookie pro Michael Bibat claimed his first title as he and ICTSI stablemate and amateur Anthony Fernando teamed up to conquer the Konica Minolta National Pro-Am Golf Championship. Both stashed away the P519,000 top prize. In the amateur side, Rufino Bayron and Chihiro Ikeda of ICTSI turned in impressive closing rounds to secure the DHL-WWWExpress National Amateur Golf Championship held at the Canlubang Golf Club’s North course. Canlubang blasted away the competition in the Filipino championship division but Manila Southwoods prevented the former’s sweep when it won a nailbiter-turned-blowout in the amateur championship division at the close of the regular action in the annual Fil-Am Men's Golf Invitational. Canlubang dominated the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub for its record-setting victory—its 15th title in the championship division—and the PAL Interclub’s second three-peat by capturing the seniors and regular men’s tiaras in the last three years. Golden Oats completed a three-peat after it won an epic battle over hometown favorite Camp John Hay fending off the latter’s spirited charge to win the premiere Fil Championship Division title in the seniors tournament of the annual Fil-Am Men's Golf Invitational held in Baguio City. Wigberto “Iggy" Clavecilla squandered a seven-shot lead but recovered in time to beat Dave Hernandez for a record third straight Philippine Seniors Amateur Golf Championship at the Riviera Golf Club’s Langer layout. In the women’ side, Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA) Tour cardholders Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin delivered in the final nine to beat South Korea in the 2008 Women's World Cup of Golf in Sun City, South Africa. Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Anya Tanpinco, also of ICTSI, rode on a fiery frontside stint to wrest control then watched ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda waiver on the final hole to rule the 45th Southern Ladies golf championship at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin, Murcia, Negros Occidental. Canlubang leaned on the heroics of its third team after its top two squads failed to win in the final round to snatch the title of the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) Circuit held at Sta Elena Golf and Country Club in Cabuyao, Laguna. – GMANews.TV